Non-monetary token vending apparatus



Oct. 12, 1965 J. E. BAYHA NON-MONETARY TOKEN VENDING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 22, 1964 FIG.3

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United States Patent 3,211,267 NON-MONETARY TOKEN VENDING APPARATUS Jack E. Bayha, Chesterland, Ohio, assignor to Transmarine Corporation, Chesterland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Sept. 22, 1964, Ser. No. 398,338 2 Claims. (Cl. 194-1) This invention relates to a non-monetary token for vending apparatus, and particularly applies to a new and unique technique of validation based on negative or positive magnetics along with the commonly known system of weight, thickness, and diameter validations.

It is well known that vending systems and apparatus are increasing in number with the trend towards automatization in all phases of our lives. It is also well known that the number of coins available for these vending operations is severely limited, with the Treasury Department barely able to keep up with the demand. Hence, nonmonetary vending systems are needed more and more as the amount of vending equipment increases, and the supply of coins necessary for the vending equipment decreases. A unique and foolproof non-monetary token for vending systems is needed.

It is the general object of the present invention to meet the needs of the art by providing a non-monetary token for vending apparatus which is characterized by a specific engageable diameter, a measurable weight, and a detectable thickness which utilizes a disc of either electrostatic permeable or shielding iron foil in the center of the token to operate an electrical switch because of magnetic shielding or magnetic passage to provide an essentially foolproof token validation system.

A further object of the invention is to provide a nonmonetary token for vending apparatus which token would defy even the most complex laboratory analysis, which is extremely difiicult and expensive to duplicate and which token is inexpensive to manufacture on a production basis.

A further object of the invention is to provide a nonmonetary token for vending apparatus which is highly reliable, extremely durable, very low in cost, and extremely effective.

The aforesaid objects of the invention and other objects which will become apparent are achieved by providing in a non-monetary token vending system the combination of a circular plastic token having a specific gageable diameter, a measurable weight, a detectable thickness, and an internal disc of iron foil being either electrostatically permeable or shielding, means to sequentially test and validate the token for diameter, weight, and thickness, and magnetic reed switch means actuated only by the internal disc of diamagnetic iron foil when the token has passed the previous tests and is in adjacent relation thereto.

For a better understanding of the invention reference should be had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a token made ac cording to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical cross sectional view of the token of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a block diagram illustrating a possible sequence of tests utilizing the token of FIGURE 1 in a payout vending apparatus.

With reference to the form of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the numeral indicates generally a non-monetary token which is substantially flat and circular shaped, and which may have a depressed central portion 12 and a lined outer edge 14. FIG- URE 2 illustrates that the token 10 of FIGURE 1 is formed from two substantially symmetrical halves 16 and 18, normally made from a plastic, or suitable non-magnetic material and molded together around a central disc 20 made from either an electrostatically permeable or shielding iron foil. The indented portions 12 on the token 10 are merely for looks or appearance, and any desired shape could be utilized, as long as the disc 20 is completely surrounded and embedded within the molded halves 16 and 18 of the token 10. It should be understood that during the molding of the halves 16 and 18, there is a complete fusing and intermingling along their adjacent interfaces so that the token essentially becomes a single unit which cannot be broken along the fused interfaces to remove the disc 20.

FIGURE 3 illustrates a block diagram of a possible validation scheme utilizing the token of FIGURES l and 2. This scheme would involve first placing the token into the system, as indicated by the token in block 22 which would then cause the token to be sequentially weight validated by block 24, thickness validated by block 26, and diameter validated by block 28. These validations would be the standard monetary or non-monetary validation techniques currently known and practiced by the art. A token 30, successively and successfully passing these tests would then be subject to a final validation which would take place by passing it adjacent a magnetic biased reed switch, indicated generally by numeral 32, which switch is well known in the art. The switch 32 comprises a conductive reed 34 mounted at one end to a conductor 36 in cantilevered fashion so that the opposite end 42 is free to make contact with conductor 38. However, a permanent or electromagnetic magnet 40 is mounted in adjacent spaced relation to the switch substantially in alignment with the reed 34, which magnet 40 causes the cantilevered end 42 of the reed 34 to be pulled away from the contact 38 in its normal position, as indicated by the dotted line 42a. However, when the token 30 passes between the magnet 40 and the switch 32, the magnetic lines of flux 46 are broken, as indicated by the dotted flux arrow lines 46a, allowing the inherent spring tension in the reed arm 34 to pull the cantilevered end 42 into contact with the switch 38 thereby closing the circuit to the payout 44.

The properties of the iron foil disc core 20 of the token are such that they will repel magnetic flux vectors or break magnetic fields, thereby either actuating or deactuating switches as desired. In other words, the invention contemplates that the final validation test will be a diamagnetic validation so that the token must have properties to interrupt magnetic flux vectors. It should be understood that the chip or token could be vended by conventional devices, and that it would be rejected by a normal slug rejector with the special diamagnetic validator merely being added to the normally existing systems.

This type of a token using a particular type of diamagnetic material as a central disc core would be very difiicult to duplicate unless the exact secret of the core material were known. It should be noted that the composition of the material used would defy even the most complex laboratory analysis, since chemically it is ferrous, with only its physical characteristics being different which are very difficult to measure. Normally, the properties of a diamagnetic iron foil is detectable only by highly skilled laboratories. The invention contemplates that this type of non-monetary token could be readily incorporated into slot machines or any other type of vending apparatus.

It should also be understood that this same token could also be used for passage of a magnetic field to effect a para-magnetic final validation step. However, the invention contemplates that the dimagnetic validation will be more difficult to compromise. It should also be understood that it is possible to use a permanent magnetic field for a wholly mechanical device as Well as an AC. or DC. magnetic or non-magnetic field to achieve the objects of the invention.

While in accordance with the patent statutes only one best known embodiment of the invention has been i1- lustrated and described in detail, it'is to be particularly understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby, but that the inventive scope is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. In a non-monetary token vending system the combination of a circular plastic token having a specific engageable diameter, a measurable weight, a detectable thickness, and an internal concentrically positioned disc of diamagnetic iron foil entirely surrounded by the plastic,

means to sequentially test and validate the token for diameter, weight, and thickness,

a payout circuit, and magnetic switch means including a magnetizable reed spring-biased in a direction to close and operate the payout circuit, a magnet normally holding the reed in open position, and means for passing the token between the reed and magnet after the token has been validated for size and weight to thereby break the hold of the magnet on the reed and effect the operation of the payout circuit.

2. In a vending system using non-monetary tokens the combination of a circular plastic token having a specific engageable diameter, a measurable weight, a detectable thickness, and an internal disc of diamagnetic iron concentric of and insulated by the plastic,

means to sequentially test and validate the token for diameter, weight, and thickness,

magnetic reed switch means actuated only by the internal disc of diamagnetic iron of the token after the token has passed the succeeding validation steps and is in adjacent relation to said reed switch means,

and a payout circuit operated by the actuation of the switch means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 912,397 2/09 Miller 1944 1,751,120 3/30 Wurzbach 19499 2,099,234 11/37 SchauWeker 1944 2,794,869 6/57 Noregaard. 2,983,354 5/61 Ember 20087.3 3,009,033 11/61 Werts 20087.3

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A NON-MONETARY TOKEN VENDING SYSTEM THE COMBINATION OF A CIRCULAR PLASTIC TOKEN HAVING A SPECIFIC ENGAGEABLE DIAMETER, A MEASURABLE WEIGHT, A DETECTABLE THICKNESS, AND AN INTERNAL CONCENTRICALLY POSITIONED DISC OF DIAMAGNETIC IRON FOIL ENTIRELY SURROUNDED BY THE PLASTIC, MEANS TO SEQUENTIALLY TEST AND VALIDATE THE TOKEN FOR DIAMETER, WEIGHT, AND THICKNESS, A PAYOUT CIRCUIT, AND MAGNETIC SWITCH MEANS INCLUDING A MAGNETIZABLE REED SPRING-BIASED IN A DIRECTION TO CLOSE AND OPERATE THE PAYOUT CIRCUIT, A MAGNET NORMALLY HOLDING THE REED IN OPEN POSITION, AND MEANS FOR PASSING THE TOKEN BETWEEN THE REED AND MAGNET AFTER THE TOKEN HAS BEEN VALIDATED FOR SIZE AND WEIGHT TO THEREBY BREAK THE HOLD OF THE MAGNET ON THE REED AND EFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE PAYOUT CIRCUIT. 